Take a look at the guy passing out movie premiere flyers as
students walk by in their fashionable designer jeans talking on
cell phones and it becomes immediately apparent that Hollywood has
invaded this campus.
Yet this trendy culture has manifested itself in more places
than students’ attire or weekend destinations.
Those celebrities that we’re normally accustomed to seeing
only on MTV (or insert your reality TV series that will be
cancelled by the fall here) actually come to UCLA themselves. And
it’s in the least Hollywood part of campus that they seem to
frequent the most.
The Wooden Center attracts gym rats looking to bulk up, shed
some pounds, or get in a few games of basketball. What these
fitness buffs don’t necessarily expect is to get a taste of
Hollywood in the process.
I’m not really down with the whole gangsta rap scene, so
when my friends started telling me about playing basketball with
Master P on Collins Court, I wasn’t sure what all the fuss
was about. One visit to MTV’s Web site later, I was convinced
that he was an A-list celebrity.
Master P is perhaps the most recognizable celebrity to regularly
frequent UCLA’s facilities, but there are plenty of others
who drop by every now and then.
Besides the host of professional athletes who train here, Adam
Sandler has talked about playing basketball here and I swear I saw
John Lithgow doing battle at the Sunset tennis courts.
“Coming to UCLA, I had the impression that celebrities
wouldn’t be too much of a shock to see walking around,”
said second-year Scott Davis, who played with Master P’s
younger brother, Silkk the Shocker at Wooden. “But it’s
kind of cool that you see a couple of rappers doing other things
than what they’re known for.”
Once on the court though, status doesn’t seem to mean a
thing. Sure, the posse of rappers Davis played alongside may have
lucrative contracts and sassy names like Lil’ Romeo, but
they’re “just like regular ballers” according to
students I talked to.
“It didn’t seem like they acted differently from
anyone else just because of their stardom,” said third-year
Chris Bui, who played on Master P’s team in a 3-on-3
game.
It makes sense that the celebrities don’t want to draw
attention to themselves. What impresses me is how Bui and other
students aren’t pulling out the autograph pens or peeing in
their pants when celebrities ask to run with them.
“I didn’t want to go and act stupid around them and
be like, “˜Oh my God. You’re Master P! I’m such a
big fan!'” Bui said. “But in my head, I was like
“˜Oh my God. That’s Master P!”
It’s a little ironic ““ but fitting ““ that the
students playing at Wooden, who care the least, have the most
interaction with celebrities, while the students who line up hours
ahead of time at a Westwood movie premiere are the furthest
removed.
The ballers at Wooden take it all in stride, and that’s
probably a reason the celebrities keep coming back. I don’t
quite know for sure, particularly since Master P’s publicist
didn’t return my phone call a while ago and because Adam
Sandler doesn’t do print media interviews. Who would have
thought that Hollywood personalities wouldn’t want to talk to
a school newspaper about the recreational sports they play?
I suppose it’s perfectly natural for celebrities to
distance themselves from publicity when they’re going about
their private lives, particularly since so much of it is tabloid
mumbo jumbo.
Fortunately for UCLA students, we don’t necessarily need
the latest People magazine to keep tabs on our favorite
celebrities. We just need to drop by the gym more often.
E-mail Finley at afinley@media.ucla.edu if you’re a
celebrity who likes talking to reporters.